World briefs

February 7, 2013 12:10 AM

This undated photo released on Wednesday Feb. 6, 2013 by the Blue Cross shows a Jack Russell terrier being scanned for a microchip at the Blue Cross Lewknor Rehoming Centre in London. British authorities say that all dogs in England will have to be fitted with microchips from 2016. Britain's Environment Department says the chips will help reunite owners with lost or stolen pets, promote animal welfare and take pressure off shelters. (AP Photo/Martin Phelps, Blue Cross)Blue Cross

February 7, 2013 12:10 AM

All dogs in England to get microchips by 2016

LONDON -- Dog owners who refuse to fit their pet with a microchip may someday find themselves fetching a hefty fine, the British government said Wednesday.

All dogs in England will have to be fitted with a tiny circuit embedded in the back of their necks by 2016, authorities said.

Britain's Environment Department said that the chips would help reunite owners with lost or stolen pets, promote animal welfare and take the pressure off animal shelters.

"It's a shame that in a nation of dog lovers, thousands of dogs are roaming the streets or stuck in kennels because the owner cannot be tracked down," Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said.

Pirates release ship, crew seized off Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- A French tanker and its crew of 17 sailors seized by pirates off Ivory Coast have been released, the ship's owner said Wednesday, though two workers suffered injuries in the hijacking.

SEA Tankers, a shipping firm based in Merignac, France, issued a statement saying the MT Gascogne is under the control of its crew and is traveling safely away. The company did not give the ship's location, nor did it describe how the ship was freed. A spokeswoman also declined to offer further details, including whether the diesel fuel the ship had been transporting was still on board.

The two injured sailors are receiving medical care, the company said. The ship was hijacked by pirates Sunday.

Germany warns Hezbollah of 'consequences'

BERLIN -- Germany warned Wednesday of "consequences" for Hezbollah if allegations are confirmed that the group was behind an attack that killed five Israeli tourists in Bulgaria in 2012.

Bulgarian officials said Tuesday that the Lebanese group had been linked to the sophisticated bus bombing carried out by a terrorist cell that included Canadian and Australian citizens.

The announcement put pressure on European countries that haven't designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization despite the urgings of Israel and the U.S.

"If the evidence proves to be true, that Hezbollah is indeed responsible for this despicable attack, then consequences will have to follow," said Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.